View source for Chaldean Christians

[[File:CHALDEAN-FESTIVAL-2.jpg|thumb|Chaldean Debka Dance]]
{{Infobox Religious group
|group    = Chaldean Christians<br/>(<big>ܟܲܠܕܵܝܹܐ</big> ''Kaldāye'')
|image= [[File:Chaldeansoftheprovinceof Mardin.JPG|200px]]
|caption   = Chaldeans from [[Mardin]], 19th century.
|poptime   =
|region1   = {{flag|Iraq}}
|pop1      = 550,000
|region2   = {{flag|Syria}}
|pop2      = 40,000
|region3   = {{flag|Iran}}
|pop3      = 20,000
|region4   = {{flag|Turkey}}
|pop4      = 8,000
|langs     = [[Chaldean language|Chaldean language]], [[Arabic]], [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]]
|rels      = [[Chaldean Christianity]] (in union with [[Roman Catholic Church|Rome]])
| scrips = The [[Bible]]
}}

'''Chaldean Christians''' {{IPAc-en|k|ae|l|'|d|i:|@n}} ({{lang|syr|ܟܠܕܝ̈ܐ}}), or [[Chaldean]],<ref>Chaldean Patriarch Sako. July 2015 "We are CHALDEANS" adherent of the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]]</ref>, originally called ''The Church of the East'', which was that part of the original universal church (Catholicos) until the 4th century AD when Chaldeans followed Bishop Nestorius and split from the universal Christian church.  Chaldeans were called [[Chaldean Nestorian]] until 1553 AD when Chaldeans Rejoined the universal church and entered communion with the [[Catholicism|Catholic Church]].<ref name='BBC'>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7271828.stm |title=Who are the Chaldean Christians? |author=BBC NEWS |date=March 13, 2008 |work= |publisher=BBC NEWS |accessdate=March 26, 2010}}</ref>

In addition to their ancient [[Chaldean homeland | Mesopotamia]] in [[Iraq]], northeast [[Syria]], northwest [[Iran]] and southeast [[Turkey]], (a region roughly corresponding with ancient [[Mesopotamia]]) [[Chaldean | Chaldean people]] communities are found in the [[United States]], [[Sweden]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Canada]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]] and [[Australia]].<ref name='Iraq'>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Iraq|authors=Edmund Ghareeb, Beth Dougherty|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8108-4330-1|page=56|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=uIyjeUAR5zYC}}</ref>


Chaldean Catholics of [[Mesopotamia]] started the [[Saint Thomas Christians]] of [[India]] (also called the [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]), who are also sometimes known as "Chaldean Christians".

==History==
Chaldeans are native people of [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]].  The term ''Chaldean'' is also noted in the Holy Bible of the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] ''Ur Kasdim'' (according to long held Jewish tradition, the birthplace of Abraham in ''Chaldea'') as meaning ''Ur of the Chaldees''.<ref>Biblical Archaeology Review May/June 2001: Where Was Abraham's Ur? by Allan R. Millard</ref> 

The modern Chaldean Catholics are native [[Chaldean people|Chaldeans]] of [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]] <ref>Nisan, M. 2002. Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle for Self Expression .Jefferson: McFarland & Company. Jump up ^ http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14225.html</ref> and originated from ancient Chaldean communities living in and indigenous to Iraq/Mesopotamia which was known as Chaldea from the 53rd century BC till today as [[Chaldean people| Chaldean people]] continue to survive in [[Mesopotamia]].

==Chaldeans in the Middle East==
The 1896 census of the Chaldean Catholics<ref>Mgr. George 'Abdisho' Khayyath to the Abbé Chabot (''Revue de l'Orient Chrétien'', I, no. 4)</ref> counted 233 parishes and 177 churches or chapels, mainly in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey. The Chaldean Catholic clergy numbered 248 priests; they were assisted by the monks of the Congregation of [[Rabban Hormizd (Saint)|St. Hormizd]], who numbered about one hundred. There were about 52 Chaldean schools (not counting those conducted by Latin nuns and missionaries). At [[Mosul]] there was a patriarchal seminary, distinct from the Chaldean seminary directed by the Dominicans. The total number of Chaldean Christians is nearly 1.4 million, 78,000 of whom are in the [[Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul|Diocese of Mosul]].

The current patriarch considers [[Baghdad]] as the principal city of his see. His title of "[[List of Chaldean Catholic Patriarchs of Babylon|Patriarch of Babylon]]" results from the identification of Baghdad with ancient [[Babylon]] (Baghdad is 55 miles north of the ancient city of Babylon and corresponds to northern [[Babylonia]]). However, the Chaldean patriarch resides habitually at [[Mosul]] in the north, and reserves for himself the direct administration of this diocese and that of Baghdad.

There are five archbishops (resident respectively at [[Basra]], [[Diyarbakır]], [[Kirkuk]], [[Salmas]] and [[Urmia]]) and seven bishops. Eight patriarchal vicars govern the small Chaldean Chaldean communities dispersed throughout Turkey and Iran. The Chaldean clergy, especially the monks of [[Rabban Hormizd Monastery]], have established some missionary stations in the mountain districts dominated by [[The Church of the East]]. Three dioceses are in Iran, the others in Turkey.

The liturgical language of the Chaldean Catholic Church is [[Chaldean language|Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]] originating in [[Chaldea]]. The liturgy of the Chaldean Church is written in the [[Chaldean Syriac alphabet]].

In March 2008, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop [[Paulos Faraj Raho]] of Mosul was kidnapped, and found dead two weeks later. [[Pope Benedict XVI]] condemned his death. Moderate Sunni and Shia Muslims also expressed their condemnation.<ref>{{cite web
|url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7295672.stm|title = Iraqi archbishop death condemned | work=BBC News | date=2008-03-13 | accessdate=2009-12-31}} from [[BBC News]]</ref>

Chaldean Catholics today number approximately 350,000 of Iraq's estimated 400,000 [[Chaldean Christians]], with smaller numbers found among the Chaldean Christian communities of northeast Syria, southeast Turkey, northwest Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Armenia.<ref name='BBC'/> Perhaps the best known Iraqi Chaldean Catholic is former Iraqi deputy prime minister, [[Tariq Aziz]] (real name Michael Youhanna).<ref name='BBC'/>

Hundreds of thousands of [[Chaldean Christians]] of all denominations have left Iraq since the ousting of Dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. At least 20,000 of them have fled through Lebanon to seek resettlement in Europe and the US.<ref>Martin Chulov (2010) [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/23/iraq-christian-exodus-christmas ”Christian exodus from Iraq gathers pace”]''The Guardian'', retrieved June 12, 2012</ref>

As political changes sweep through many Arab nations, the ethnic Chaldean minorities in northeast Syria, northwest Iran and southeast Turkey have also expressed concern.<ref>R. Thelen (2008) [http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/Sep/26/Thousands-of-Iraqi-Christians-find-refuge-in-Lebanon.ashx#axzz1xcnVc7gD ''Daily Star'', Lebanon] retrieved June 12, 2012</ref>

==Chaldean towns in northern Iraq==
*[[Zakho]]
*[[Alqosh]] ({{lang|syr|ܐܠܩܘܫ}})
*[[Ankawa]] ({{lang|syr|ܥܢܟܒ݂ܐ}})
*[[Araden]] ({{lang|syr|ܐܪܕܢ}})
*[[Baqofah]] ({{lang|syr|ܒܝܬ ܩܘܦ̮ܐ}})
*[[Batnaya]] ({{lang|syr|ܒܛܢܝܐ}})
*[[Karamles]] ({{lang|syr|ܟܪܡܠܫ}})
*[[Shaqlawa]]({{lang|syr|ܫܩܠܒ݂ܐ}})
*[[Tel Isqof]] ({{lang|syr|ܬܠܐ ܙܩܝܦ̮ܐ}})
*[[Tel Keppe]] ({{lang|syr|ܬܠ ܟܦܐ}})

==See also==

*[[Chaldean people]]
*[[List of Chaldeans]]
*[[Church of the East]]
*[[Chaldea]]
*[[Emmanuel III Delly]]
*[[List of Chaldean settlements]]
 

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{catholic}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chaldean Catholic Church}}
*[http://www.cnewa.us/default.aspx?ID=59&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=US&pageno=1 The Chaldean Catholic Church]
*[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USCIS,,IRQ,,3dee0b564,0.html Iraq: Chaldean Christians] [[UNHCR]]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03559a.htm Chaldean Christians] in the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7271828.stm BBC: Who are the Chaldean Christians?]

{{Iraq topics}}
{{Chaldean Christianity}}

[[Category:Chaldean Catholic Church]]
[[Category:Chaldean people]]
[[Category:Iraqi people]]
[[Category:Ancient peoples]]

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